Albert Smith, the Devonshire Cougars assistant coach, has adopted the theme "Chance of a Lifetime" to inspire his players ahead of Monday's clash with North Village in the Martonmere Cup final at St. David's Oval.

Cougars have made the brightest of starts this season and ride a wave of emotion into their first major cup final since 1995. But Smith is mindful that, like the several other finals Cougars have contested in modern times, that too ended in defeat.

Vasco, with goals by Kentoine Jennings and Dwight Basden, continued their own impressive sequence of winning the FA Cup while Cougars were left to contemplate a season in which they also reached the Friendship Trophy semi-finals and were ultimately relegated.

The mood around Frog Lane these days, though, is ebullient with the youthful look that has overtaken the club executive matched by what is happening on the football pitch. "We've had a good team harmony," Smith said of the early-season form.

The form books suggest that Cougars should go into the match as favourites but history, not to mention Village's dominance of their crosstown neighbours, paints a different picture. "We know that they've been in a little slump but we know that they're a cup team," Smith added. "Every team has a hump and Village are our hump team. Once we get over that hump I think we'll be alright."

If ever there was a time to pull one over on their rivals, it is now, with Village in the midst of a two-game losing streak in which they have been outscored 5-0. But they do have a habit of beating Cougars.

In the teams' league season-opener, Village prevailed 2-1 where, once again, that man Kentoine Jennings was in the fray with a second-half header that broke the deadlock. Still, there was enough of an indication that Cougars will be a threat as they created the lion's share of the chances without capitalising.

On the one occasion they did, it was Raymond Beach, the former Dandy Town forward, who hit the back of the net with a crisp drive to equalise a Jamaul Boyles goal scored against the run of play. Beach, who joined Cougars in the off-season to resume his junior partnership with Heys Wolffe, has been a godsend, according to Smith. "He has done a good job for us this year," Smith said. "Last year we didn't have that person that could consistently put the ball away. We were creating chances but weren't scoring. With him coming into the team, it's just what we've been looking for."

How Beach and Wolffe, who visits an arena that his father, Heys Johnston, adorned two decades ago with the same club, cope with the atmosphere will be central to Cougars' chances of cup glory. And they have a team-mate in Mark Smith who is equally capable on the ball and could provide the Village defence with no shortage of concern.

There is a certain quality at the back, headed by the rugged Galvin Butterfield, with Shawn Smith, the former Bermuda international and now Cougars player-coach, the anchor of the midfield. "Our depth has been a key asset," Smith added. "We have a strong bench compared to last year. Everybody seems to be on the same level and that is good for competition. Like I said to the players before, if they stay committed we'll do fine."

Smith said that a result on Monday is vital not only for the players but the fans and teams of yesteryear that came up short. "It's hard to explain how we would react if we won," he said. "It hasn't happened before but I know it would be a joyful occasion. We've been hidden in the dark too long. It's time for us to come into the light!"

On the Village front, Scott Morton, the coach, confirmed yesterday that Kentoine and Kevin Jennings are definitely out of the equation for the cup final. Kentoine is expected to miss a few more weeks with a shoulder injury but Kevin returned to training and was impressive but Morton said: "It's a long season and we don't want to rush him."

Probable teams:

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; E.Richardson, G.Butterfield, C.Smith, D.Brangman; K.Saltus, S.Smith, K.Goddard; H.Wolffe, R.Beach, M.Smith.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson; S.DeShields, J.Thomas, M.Hansey, K.Binns; T.Outerbridge, S.Goater, J.Boyles; K.Dill, D.Warren, V.Tankard.